Today’s installment of 73 Sports Movies in 73 Days is the 1998 sports spoof BASEketball, which starred Trey Parker and Matt Stone, who are obviously much better known as the guys who gave us South Park. I’m not going to beat around the bush on this one – BASEketball is one of the best movies ever made. Is it stupid? Yes. Is it offensive? Oh yes. Is it absurd on all levels and an affront to human decency? Yeah, absolutely.

But it is also a film that I can watch several dozen times over the span of 15 years and still laugh until my stomach hurts every time, because I am an immature child at my core. Unfortunately, some people don’t share my love of BASEketball, so as I was watching it this afternoon, I checked Rotten Tomatoes for the movie’s worst reviews and paired them with the appropriate responses.

“All of us are glad that such a terrific human being like Joe Cooper has returned. If I were a woman I’d sure like to be his girlfriend. Walking in the park, hand-in-hand. Wrapping my legs around him, cuddling in the spoon position, our hearts beating in unison. Staring into his eyes over our morning coffee… (has water thrown at face) huh! Yes. Thank you.”

Saw it twice in theatres. The Monday after it opened, with six other people in the theater. And then 10 days later on opening night in the second-run theater in town. Full house, sitting next to a bunch of drunk assholes. IT WAS GLORIOUS.

I thought for a long time–about five years or so after Baseketball came out–that I was the only one who loved this movie (rotten tomatoes is showing 42%, mostly from late ’90s reviews). Or rather it seemed all my friends on the baseball team liked it and no one else on the planet did.

Then about a year ago I heard Bill Simmons offer a revisionist take on his podcast, giving it an endorsement that was seconded by Carolla. And I think this turnaround is due to a number of factors, but mainly by the totally unexpected longevity (of South Park (which has caused a re-evaluation of their other projects). This movie, you must remember, came out after only one season of the show.

Look, sometimes we need time and distance to evaluate things–even Roger Ebert gave Die Hard two stars and then apologized later. But I thought Baseketball was easily the best comedy of the 1998 back in 1998, much better than the now kind of forgotten Something About Mary. And if you disagree with me, we can’t be friends.

I can almost guarantee that if I saw this movie for the first time today, I would turn it off after 20 minutes. But being that I saw it for the first time in 1999 at 24 years old, I end up watching the rest of it every time it shows up on HBO.

“And joining us in the booth this evening, big fan of BASEketball, Tony Nocholino, who plays, as you know, Latino cut-up “Scooter” on the new hit comedy series “What’s the Difference?” airing between “Recycled Junk” starring Lisa Campbell and “Same Old Crap” featuring teen heartthrob Mark Swenson, all part of the great fall lineup on our network’s “Who gives a rat’s ass?” Thursdays.”

It’s such a wealth of great things to reference that, like seasons 4-8 Simpsons, that I quote it without realizing it. And, like Idiocracy, the intro is meant to be over the top, but hits its mark a little too well.

Anyone who doesn’t like Basketball clearly is a freedom hating member of the 700 club or a-Qaeda.

I remember seeing this with my best friend in the summer. We walked an hour and half to the closest theater to see Basketball and it was totally worth it. It’s funny and has a nice amount of cheesecake shots of Victoria Silvesdet, Yasmine Bleeth and Jenny McCarthy (before she went all loopy) to keep things interesting.

When is the 73 for 73 series going to review the Mighty Ducks trillogy and other hockey classics like Slap Shot, Youngblood and Goon?

Goddammit, this is a great film that I went to see in the THEATER, you little bitches. Drinking the fat from Marlon Brando puts me on the floor every time. “Ohhh, wait am I doing here…*slurp* Awww, it’s all salty and warm….”

A) It starts explaining sports stadiums being named with the Core-States Center, which was then the First Union Center(FU Center, best name for a Philly arena ever), Wachovia Center and currently is the Wells Fargo Center.

B) The description of the way the playoff positioning is decided.
Dan Patrick: With the first seven months of the BASEketball postseason out of the way, the playoff picture is now starting to emerge.
Kenny Mayne: So, with last night’s victory over Boston, next week the Beers must beat Indianapolis in order to advance to Charlotte. That’s in an effort to reduce their magic number to three.
Dan Patrick: Right, and then the Beers can advance to the National Eastern Division North to play Tampa.
Kenny Mayne: So, if the Beers beat Detroit and Denver beats Atlanta in the American Southwestern Division East Northern, then Milwaukee goes to the Denslow Cup, unless Baltimore can upset Buffalo and Charlotte ties Toronto, then Oakland would play LA and Pittsburgh in a blind choice round robin. And if no clear winner emerges from all of this, the two-man sack race will be held on consecutive Sundays until a champion can be crowned.
Dan Patrick: Right.

Try being a 30 y/o lady person who’s favorite movie is BASEketball, working amongst other ladies who will not stop talking about how much they love Tyler Perry movies or *shudder* those stupid “New Years Eve” or “Valentine’s Day” movies. I’m not one for stereotypes, but most middle-class white ladies are the worst.

I was super excited when I saw this 73 movie entry for Baseketball. The parade of gifs and freaking rotten tomatoes reviews was a big disappointment. Why do you think there are so many comments on this article? Because the comments ARE the article.

I like how you mix up formats for different movies you cover, but this format was just…

I still will continue to love the shit out this 73 sports movie series though.